What to wear in the pool?

[Sarahjct]

Hi all, hope everyone is well and it's not too gloomy or rainy where you are!

I haven't asked MW about the pool yet as I don't even know if it'll be available whenever I go in so trying not to get too attached to the idea. But, assuming it is, and they don't have a problem with me using it (I'm a size 20/22), I just wondered what you wear.

I don't care what anyone says, no way will I be too far gone to strut around nekkid so that's out and I can't see any sort of tankini top providing enough cover so should I just wear a night shirt/t shirt and get it wet or what?

My hospital bag(s) already look like I'm going away for the winter so I don't want to add too much else to it but I want to be prepared for all eventualities!

So I'm looking for suggestions from anyone who has used a pool and wasn't prepared to go it au naturel!

Thanks

you might find a nightshirt too constricting and annoying when wet.. the pool will protect your modesty a fair bit. and i know you say about not thinking you will be ok being nekkid.. but you probably will !

what about a tshirt that finishes at the top of your thighs, so you don;t have material sticking to your legs ?

vest top or bikini top, i always said i would never give birth naked but on the day had no probs stripping of. means you get all that lovely skin to skin as soon as babys born as well.

I didn't think I was... but I did

tbh it was blardy roasting in there, I couldn't have worn anything even if I'd wanted to.

I took a nightshirt to wear in the pool, as I thought i would be embarrased. They also offered me a hospital gown to wear in the pool.

But when it came to the actual time I just wanted to get in the pool and just had on my maternity bra and knickers. I would have hated having my nightshirt on.

I guess you don't know how you are going to feel until the time, so i would take a nightshirt or t-shirt with you.

I wore a maternity vest with "hidden support" from Mothercare. I started out with bikini bottoms too but, obviously they had to come off

TBH, it's only the top half you need to worry about. Mentally, your bottom half is covered by the water and therefore fine. A nightshirt is going to go all floaty in the water get in the way.

For my "dry land" births I used a hospital gown.

Erm..... nothing.
I wore nothing for both water births, seemed the norm. to me, and DH and all around me tbh, MWs etc.

i just had bra on with breast pads in odd i know they were dripping when i got out!
didnt think i could go nekid but then when things got moving couldnt get my clothes off quick enough pics on my profile !

"trust me-you won't give a flying fuck"

I did. Not everyone is the same.

Yup, nothing. By the time you are 5cm and can actually get into the pool, like janitor says you wont care a damn!
Good luck btw.

i got in as soon as i got to hospital they couldnt examine me i wouldnt let them couldnt lie down was in too much pain and didnt want them anywhere near me!

Sarah
plan away by all means but please don't believe that you can actually decide any of these things .
i am EXTREMELY bashful - just one of those people. I had a nightie all ready and as soon as my labour started I could not bear anything touching me. It was hideous - had to be naked but, as others have said, couldn't have cared less.
Also planned a birthing pool and one of the things I could not bear against my skin was ....water. sigh.

The best laid plans....

agree with mrsbadger it's bloody boiling in birthing pools. i started off with just a bra on (and too be honest was a bit shy, oh for about 5 secs) but after that i didnt care.

after a while i remember screaming at my dh to take my bra off as it felt too restrictive.

i wore....NOTHING!!
and to be honest, could'nt care less. and im defo not a size 10 believe me! anyway. i figured that if the midwife had'nt seen titties before...well that would be very unusual would'nt it ? !!!

I wore nothing, but there was something about the pain of labour that made the extra 'stimulation' of clothes of skin seem intense. Was naked in pool.

LOL thanks for the replies. Still not convinced about the nudity aspect - I'm thinking of having all lights switched off! Makes you wonder how I got into this mess in the first place!

So I think it's a vest top with a handy big towel for wrapping round nethers on leaving or entering pool. I might be back in a few weeks (I'm 35 weeks btw) pontificating about the joys of birthing whilst starkers! We shall see...

Hi Sarah
I stayed in a tshirt for a while but after the lovely midwife had fished out a couple of poo's with a sieve I figured that all my dignity had already gone and I took it off - what a relief - now given birth twice in pools both times naked.
I do remember asking the midwife when I was about 38 weeks pregnant how long I would be able to keep my knickers on for as I didn't want to be wandering round for hours with no niks. She smiled and said that the only limitation was when the baby actually was coming out..
Good luck - hope you have a fabulous birth experience.

OMG don't even get me started thinking about poo! Why oh why is this such a dignity-less experience?! This baby better be worth it!

Have a few puffs of gas and air and you may well start taking your clothes off anyway (I did)

There is this big myth that you lose all dignity in childbirth, I think it's rubbish personally. Dignity is about being strong and true to yourself, not some half-baked ideas about cellulite or looking silly. A woman in labour, giving birth to a baby is a beautiful thing. You are going to do an amazing thing and a bodily process. If you poop, fart, bleed, scream, vomit and wee, it's all normal and part of the efforts to get your baby out into the world safely. Don't be afraid.

The midwives won't care, the baby is the important thing (and you of course), turn the lights down low and go with what feels right at the time

None of my midwives ever mentioned poo so therefore it didn't happen

Dressing gown is good rather than a towel. A dark dressing gown. [meaningful look]

they had the lght low when i gave birth to dd lol and i didnt ask!
and your baby will be worth it lol mine often can be right lttle madam and bossy but shes my world lol

Oh No I didn't mean to put you off with the Poop comment - I felt that the water protected my privacy and it was such a brilliant experience - please don't worry it will be brilliant!

I wore a white gap t-shirt (which is in ds's "baby box"!) but it wasn't part of a grand plan - just had it on & it felt comfy - don't make a huge plan, see how you feel, if you're hot take everything off!